Raul castro, the president of cuba will also give a News Conference in his country that will happen at noon eastern time. Of course cnn will continue to follow this breaking news throughout the day. Thank you for joining me today, im carol kos toll low. this hour with berman and michaela starts now. Hello, everyone. Im john berman. And. And im michaela pereira. History is being made at this hour after more than a half century of tension and diplomat diplomatic silence between the u. S. Its releasing alan gross from prison after five years. A series of genuinely breathtaking developments. Cuba is also releasing a u. S. Intelligence asset, a spy, whos been locked up in cuba for more than 20 years. In Return Washington is freeing three cuban spies convicted in 2001 of espionage. That is big in and of itself. It all seems part now of something much, much bigger. President obama will announce major changes in u. S. Policy toward cuba. Officials calling them the most sweeping changes since the embargo began more than 50 years ago. Cuban president raul castro is planning a similar announcement next hour on cuban tv. The big question at this hour, does this foreshadow a return to normal relations with the island nation, a country that has been a thorn in washingtons side since fidel castro took power back in 1959. Cnn is covering this from all angles. We should mention were the only u. S. Network on the ground in cuba. Patrick oppman is in havana. Michelle kosinski joins us from the white house. And justice Reporter Evan Perez and Global Affairs correspondent elise in
washington. Elise, i want to begin with you because you have the details of this series of remarkable developments here and at the top of that list well have an embassy. The white house wants to open up an embassy in havana. Thats right, john, and the u. S. And cuba having these talks for some time. Not only about alan gross and the cuban five and u. S. Intelligence asset but how the u. S. And cuba can normalize relations. Youve seen talks with u. S. And cuban officials over the last years and the u. S. Sees reform on the island. So the u. S. Will be opening up an embassy in havana. Right now theres an intrasection. The u. S. Will also see about getting cuba off the state sponsor of Terrorism List which has really been a thorn in cubas side because it was more of a political move. Cuba hasnt been seen as having any Terrorist Activity for
years. President obama set to announce with these wide ranging initiatives, really everything he can do outside of the existing legislation. So were talking about a relaxing of Travel Restrictions for americans that means a general license to travel practically anything of terrorism, a resumption of banking between the u. S. And cuban banks, americans k use credit cards on the island. The president also going to announce expanded commercial and export of sales and goods to cuba. And Officials Say this is not a reward to the cuban regime, the regime of the castros but more an acknowledgement that the embargo is not working and that if the u. S. Wants to encourage further reforms on the island it needs to engage more with the cuban government and people. They say they will not let up on human rights and actually as part of this deal cuba has
agreed to release some 53 Political Prisoners from a list provided by by the United States, allow more access to the internet for cuban people and allow more access to Political Prisoners by the international crossexamination and United Nationss so as we said for a president that said he wanted to come to office to engage cuba many years ago, thats happened in fits and starts, certainly alan gross has been an impediment to that this will be a Landmark Deal for President Obama that will shape his Foreign Policy. So many pieces and parts to this. Elise labott, thank you so much. Not only will our president be speaking about this announcement today around noon, cuban president raul castro is expected to make an announcement on the relations with the United States. Thats expected to be at noon as well on cuban tv but is this the beginning of some mending between cuban u. S. Relations. We just learned that president himself spoke with the cuban lead era wul castro yesterday to finalize this
arrangement is is coming into playwright now. We want to go live to Patrick Oppman in havana, cnn is the only u. S. Network with presence in cuba. Patrick, a wul castro, the president , the leader of cuba is expected to speak in just a little while. What is he expected to say . Well probably hear more details about this historic agreement came through. Just came through in the last 24 hours. I understand from a pr company that works for alan grosss attorney, some of the ticktock of what happened here. Alan gross was only in formed yesterday that he would be freed and im told that he didnt know what to respond. There was just stunned silence when his Attorney Scott Gilbert called him on the line to tell him he would be leaving cuban prison after five years. Then this morning a u. S. Government plane arrived here at a Military Base in cuba to pick up alan gross. On board is his wife judy, his
Attorney Scott Gilbert and as well three u. S. Congressman senator jeff flake from arizona, Patrick Leahy from vermont and Congressman Van Holland from alan grosss Home District in maryland. These are three congressmen who have been very much involved in winning his release. Then they take off after 8 00 a. M. And were told at 8 45, the pilot gets on the intercom to tell alan gross that they are now out of cuban airspace. Alan gross stands up and is im told unable to talk hes so overwhelmed by emotion then he calls his daughters and his first words to his daughters are im free. You can only imagine their reaction at this long nightmare concluded for their father. Where do u. S. Cuban relations go next. Im joined by a long time diplomat here in havana. They restored Semi Relations and you are the chief of the u. S. Intersection, what do you think
looking at the future of the relations between these two countries . I would con garage late this administration. This was the right thing to do at this critical moment. Why critical . Because the torture report had just come out damaging the image of the United States. Now were going into the hemispheric sum midin april. The United States is the only country now that does not have full diplomatic relations with cuba. Time to change that. One of the marks, i think, in the hemisphere against the United States is its outdated cuban policy. So we are now moving, the administration is indicating we will move to change our cuba policy to engage with cuba. Thats exactly right thing to do. Thank you so much. This policy obviously will affect thousands of peoples
lives as u. S. And cuba who move closer together. Of course its obviously have a major impact on the life of alan gross returning to the United States and the lives of three cuban intelligence agents who are also flying back to the United States. Alan gross were told will land at Andrews Air Force base at 11 30 a. M. This morning, will have some words to the media and then will go back to being with his family trying to get his health better. Im sure thats causing such a good sigh of relief from every Family Member knowing hes on his way. Thanks so much patrick. We appreciate it. I want to turn to somebody on the phone from madrid tud, spain, former governor Bill Richardson is on the phone with us. Your reaction to the news that this deal is being made for the return of an american to
american soil but also about the potential for new relations with cuba. Well, this is very personal for me because in 2011 i went to cuba to try to get Alan Gross Out and i was unable to. They wanted the five cuban Political Prisoners, the five spies in the u. S. And the u. S. Neither country was ready to do it. So this is huge. Alan gross was the impediment for the u. S. cuba Relationship Improving. So now that that has been cleared away i think President Obama is looking at his legacy and saying in lat tip america getting rid of this irritant of the u. S. Cuba relationship where were not dialoguing or speaking is going to happen and its going to result in the resumption of diplomatic relations. It wont do much with the trade
embargo because congress has to improve softening of the Trade Embargo. This was the helmsburton act several years ago that basically said the president doesnt have the Executive Authority to do this without going to the congress. But this is huge. This is the legacy stuff for President Obama and my hope is that we zero in on this is good but cuba needs to improve its human rights position, needs to release Political Prisoners, allow the internet in, allow more freedoms there. Hopefully this is going to happen with this release, but this was the linchpin, the release of alan gross for the u. S. Thats the news we were hoping to get so the relationship with cuba would improve. You brought up congress here and, governor, youve had just about every job imaginable, both political and diplomatic so you know the complications here. People say it doesnt seem likely, the congress itself will lift the embargo. There are democrats who oppose this move today. The chairman of the Senate Foreign relations committee, bob menend menendez, put out a statement that said President Obamas actions have vindicate it had brutal behavior of the cuban government. Whats your reaction to that . Theres going to be opposition in the congress. I dont think theres any Tway Congress will relax the embargo in any way so what the president is doing is taking Executive Action that he can take on his own. Like opening up an embassy in cuba. He can do that i think the exchange of ambassadors is very big and i think senator menendez and a lot of Cuban Americans rightfully are saying, hey, you know, lets make sure that there are significant human rights improvements not just in the treatment of Political Prisoners
but tourism, transit of cuban American Families between havana and the United States. That has improved but for the American People if they open up travel to cuba youre going to see a Real Travel Tourism Bonanza because a lot of americans want to go to cuba. I think youll see a lot of cubans wanting to come to the u. S. So i think this is a very good legacy Foreign Policy initiative for President Obama. It would be interesting to be among Cuban Americans right now. The old generation, the newer generation. While we still have you, one of the things we have from u. S. Officials are trying to stress that this move was not to in any way seem as though it was propping up the Castro Regime but if we want change in cuba we have to try a different approach. Im curious what your thoughts are there. Well i agree. The cuban Trade Embargo is not
working. It didnt improve relations and the cubans were using it to solidify their own leadership. It was also major American Relations with the u. S. So this is a good Foreign Policy move also. The cubans wanted to get off the Terrorism List, that didnt make sense because they were cooperating with us on Homeland Security issues. But i think on a lot of other matters like environmental issues, coastal issues relating to protection of Climate Change and the seas, it opens up enormous areas, potential areas of cooperation. I think again the congress isnt going to take much action. I think the administration should open it with senator menendez, with senator rubio, with the Cuban Americans that have really stood up for human
rights issues and see if theres a way that there can be a dialogue on americans deciding and being key players in how the relationship with cuba improves because theyre patriotic americans and im for this move and for this Relationship Improving but its going to cause a lot of anxious in the Cuban American Community in miami and new jersey where senator menendez is from. This is a time to reach a dialogue and have a discussion about what human rights initiatives, what openness of privatization of the cuban economy. But this is good and i hope President Obama and president castro have a chance to meet in panama in april and maybe this can be expanded, the improvement
in the relationship. All right, governor Bill Richardson, former ambassador, former secretary, thank you so much for being with us to provide your vast insight to Whats Going On here, this momentous day. President barack obama in less than an hour set to deliver a statement on u. S. Relations with cuba. A sea change, really, in u. S. Relations with cuba. Hell deliver that from the cabinet room. Lets go to the white house now. Michelle kosinski 1 there. Do do you have a sense of what the president will say and any sense at all of why now . This is momentous. You used that word. The fact that this will open things after such a long period of time. The fact that the white house is calling this the beginning of full diplomatic relations with cuba. A debate. Anyone who spent time in miami and has been a part of that Community Knows that this is a debate to that goes on everyday. Something will come up in the news and people will debate whether the current policy is
working and castro needs to be punished versus its not working and something more needs to be done, a modernization of regulation relations. Thats the tack the white house is taking here. So we havent heard from the president yet but we heard a Background Grieving from seen your white house officials who laid out the entire scope of this. They say the focus is very much still on Human Rights And Democracy but the past policy wasnt doing it. They feel like this will be a more efficient way to press those needs in cuba. Its shocking. The fact that cuba just convicted an sentenced alan gross to 15 years in prison for fomenting dissent, in 2011 and now today were seeing this sea change as you called it. I was going ask you very quickly in terms of what were expecting in terms of backlash, because we know the last time we
saw a prisoner was lease was suggest bergdahl being released and the white house faced criticism for that. This is not just a prisoner release, theres a humanitarian release, theres also a change, a call for change in policy in a long standing 50 year battle, if you will, or at least a freezeout there will be backlash. Its fascinating. Were hearing from members of congress, some Cuban Americans. Were hearing from people within the State Department who said they felt shut out of these negotiations that started last spring. The question is why werent they involved more . So the white house did answer that question in this Background Briefing saying the focus for now is not on what congress can do in the future. Although they would Like Congress to take action. Possibly lifting the embargo fully ultimately but they said for now the focus is on what the president can do and this is something hes wanted to do for a long time. And kriept some bipartisan support, the fact that there are members of congress on a plane with alan gross, one a republican, that doesnt seem like much in the grand scope of things but thats what the white house is citing as an example of some bipartisan support its interesting to see what this will do because when you talk about the backlash, what is expected with cuba in this. They just convicted an sentenced alan gross, how are things going to change so much on their end to satisfy the United States right now . The white house is saying there is an open there. There is talk of reform and this is really the beginning of reform. What they laid out is whats expected of cuba for now is theyll release 53 Political Prisoners and the white house said many of them have been released. They need to open up communications including internet connectivity, telecoms and include the red cross. Theres much, much more to this in terms of whats going to be
done. There is so much to this p, including a life altering moment for one man alan gross. We believe this is the plane carrying alan gross right now on the ground from our affiliate wjla. Alan gross left cuba this morning. Whats remarkable is we were listening to here from our correspondents. He learned of his imminent release yesterday. He has been over time very frustrated with the hopes of being released he is said to have said his goodbyes. So the fact that this happened today im sure he had no words. On board this plane with him democrats and a republican. Patrick lahey. Chris van hollen, a democrat from maryland alan grosss home state and also jeff flake, republican senator from arizona who is really been supportive of
more normal relations with cuba. It shows the bipartisan support but there was also bipartisan opposition to this. We are waiting to get our first look at alan gross. Hes 65 years old. Hes been in prison for five years. He lost a tremendous amount of weight and as mikhail la was saying, over time hes been angry not just at cubans but there were period of times where he was not happy with the United States for the efforts to get him back. On board the plane was his wife and i cant imagine what that conversation would have been like. Consider that for a moment. The man thought he was going spend the last of his days separated from his family. To know that today he is sitting behind the woman he chose to marry, the woman he loves headed back to american soil, i cant imagine the range of emotions hes feeling. One of our producers had a chance to speak with his attorney, scott gilbert. This is what he told our producer. Alan gross was planning on enjoying a good scotch. He hasnt had a drink in five years. He wants to spend some time with his family and enjoy a little private time with them. Also said he wants to have a good cigar which there will be plenty of americans will tell you is plenty of ironic. But it shows you these were not easy days for alan gross in prison in cuba. There are 50 years of history, 50 years plus of history at play with whats happening today and thats all changing, it seem, today, not just for alan gross but also in the relationship between the United States and cuba. Its filled with complicated tumultuous history. I want to bring in alfredo duran. He bought in the bay of pigs alongside u. S. Interests there. He was captured, he was jailed in cuba for 18 months. Alfredo joins us live from miami. As you look at this today, not just alan gross being returned to the United States but also what is apparently a change in the relationship between the United States and cuba, what are
your thoughts . Well, first of all, im very happy for mr. Alan gross. The cuban government released alan gross because he was very ill and alan gross they certainly didnt want to have the responsibility of having alan gross become very, very ill in cuba or pass away in cuba. And so thats why they basically released him. I dont think that theres really very many very much of a meaningful negotiation that had to do with any future relationship between the United States and cuba. Theres very it will that will the president can do by Executive Order in relations to cubaor than possibly start full diplomatic relations. Most of the relationship between cuba and the United States has it goes to Foreign Policy is in the Congress Hands in the helmsburton bill. Unfortunately, the case of cuba is no longer has to do anything with Foreign Policy, it has to do with political elections in
the state of florida and new jersey, electoral politics, president ial politics because of the amount of electoral votes that the cuban american vote in a close election can make the difference. Alfredo, i dont want to interrupt you but were looking at live pictures from Joint Base Andrews, Andrews Air Force base as many people know it outside washington, d. C. We believe that was just the plane carrying alan gross that landed. It does seem likely perhaps this camera is following him. We cant get a good look at it that he may be in that group of people stepping on to u. S. Soil for the first time in five years. Is. We wanted to stay with the this picture, alfredo, well get back to you in just a moment. This is significant. Five years of imprisonment in cuba, not expecting to be released home. Many people had tried in vain. We heard from form er governor
Bill Richardson had added his voice to the calls to be released. And this happened in very short order, today an exchange. That was humanitarian release but we know there was another u. S. Spy that had been held in cuba for 20 years. He has been released as well. There were Political Prisoners within cuba released as well in this deal today. Alfredo, if youre still with us, you were a prisoner in cuba many, many years ago. Alan gross, who we believe we just saw land on american soil, he was just released from a cuban prison after five years. There are critics today of this deal who say that the Obama Administration just made a deal with a repressive regime. A regime that is not changing. How do you react to that . I think that the Obama Administration, what they did is what every administration of the United States has an obligation to do and that is to try to get whatever person is imprisoned outside of the United States for
political reasons to get them back here to the country. The Obama White House did the right thing by protecting an american citizen. Especially one who seems to be ill. So i congratulate the Obama Administration for having the courage to do what theyre obligated to do and hes done it very well. But you say its going to take more to see substantive change within cuba. What is it going to take . You know, the only thing that i can forecast for cuba is that nothing is going to change until we have a generational change in cuba. While we have the four or five historical figures of the mountains in cuba still Walking Around in havana youre not going to see any significant change. Youre going to see a generational change, the young cubans, if you take a look at the Central Committee of the communist party, about 80 of them are under 55 years of age, that ear the ones who will change the future of cuba. They want a better life, they want a more stable government, they want political freedom, they want human rights and that you dont have in cuba right now. Alfredo, thank you so much for being with us. We just saw some live pictures right now from Andrews Air Force base of alan gross returning to the United States after five years in a prison in cuba. He was flown back this morning, just told yesterday that he was coming back. He was said when the airplane made it up in the u. S. Airspace he was said to have stood up and was at a loss for words, he then called his daughters and had an emotional conversation with them. Its amazings to man this mans first taste of freedom. Whatever you have to say about what is happening today, an historic moment today. The change in the relationship between the United States and cuba for one man today life just changed do dramatically. He is home safely. He did not think this was going to happen. One man who met with him in prison, in cuba, congressman sam farr, a democrat from california. He joins us by phone now. Congressman, you met with alan gross back in may. When you spoke to him then, do you think he ever saw this day coming . No, in fact, he said that he would not spend his next birthday incarcerated. So it was obvious that he was either going to kind of do something really drastic. He was very upset with both countries. Sort of felt let down by our country and certainly upset with the cuban government. He knew that this was a political move by the cubans to arrest him even though he didnt break the cuban law. But to hold him for 15 years in prison, i dont think he ever thought this was going to happen. You can see by the excitement i mean, everybodys excited about this. This is a failed policy, diplomatic relations allow you
to negotiate, all the things that people are concerned about about cuba, their violations of human rights and lack of freedom in the press, these are things that can be donor mall channels just like they have been done with vietnam and china and so on. So im really excited that our policy is becoming mature. Becoming mature. It sounds like in order to broker this deal it sounds as though it sort of took an international effort. Weve been giving word from some of our reporters that the canadians and the vatican, pope francis, have been involved in facilitating and brokering this deal. Pope francis encouraging President Obama in a letter and in their meeting this year to renew talks with cuba. Were just showing once again the moment so many people have been watching and the family was waiting for, the moment when alan gross, his plane touched down on u. S. Soil at Andrews Air Force base with his wife and several elected officials on board the plane, people who had been working to secure his release. A tremendous moment there. We know the president has been active in this, congressman farr. Im curious what youre expecting and hoping to hear from the president when he makes his comments at noon today. Well, i hope hell also point out that were the only country in the hemisphere that hasnt had normal relations and that weve been isolating ourselves in the world, its been an embarrassment. We have a summit of all the president s meeting in panama in march. All of the other countries insisted cuba be invited to the next summit. We had to take some action and im really proud that he did. I think this is a step in the right direction. As i said, its mature and all the other concerns that we have now can be dealt with during normal channels and i think it will really allow the American People to interact with cuban people and what better way to build democracy. Congressman, though, you served in the u. S. House of representatives the u. S. Congress does not seem likely to
reversem t embargo. The president will try to normalize some relations, there will be an exchange of embassy. Well have an embassy in the United States and cuba will have an embassy in washington, d. C. Which is remarkable in and of itself. Do you see the politics inside zmong theres bipartisan opposition in some quarters. The strongest opposition in congress is a few members who are Cuban Americans who have made it their Political Mission to block any progressive action. Theyre going to have to stand between the American People and the president on this one because i think American People and the faithbased communities in this country, the trading groups, the Business Groups will all be behind normalizing relations and so if Congress Members cant get reelected, theyll listen to the people and i think the American People will
respond overwhelmingly in favor of the president s action. Were seeing a closeup picture of alan gross on the side of your screen. Theres an image that was taken there of Him Disembarking from the plane. A lot of people have noted that he has lost a substantial amount of weight during his time in prison in cuba. Losing some 100 pounds. There was talk of some medical issues that he was having. It really is something to see, john, when you see this happening. Weve seen a few returns home in the last little while of americans. We saw some other home comings of people and you try to imagine what you would be feeling in a moment like this. We just got a statement from senator jeff flake who was on the plane as he was coming home with alan gross right now. Let me read you this statement outloud. It says this is a wonderful day for alan gross, for his wife judy and their family. The manner in which they have endured this nightmare is worthy of praise and admiration. It was an honor to be with alan as he touched down on u. S. Soil. You can see the still image of that. After more than five years in a cuban prison. When i visited alan last month, he expressed the hope his ordeal might somehow lead to positive changes between the United States and cuba with todays significant and farreaching announcements i think it already has. Indeed, the life of this man, alan gross, changing drastically today. In just a few minutes 30, minutes from now, President Obama will announce major changes in the u. S. Relationship with cuba as well. We want to turn to justice Reporter Evan Perez who covered the relationship extensively when he was a reporter for the Wall Street Journal and ana navarro who is, we should point out, a resident of miami, great perspective to get perspective from both of you. Evan, you have been covering this issue, this ongoing issue for some time. Im curious about your thoughts and what it will feel like big
picture wise. Michaela, ill tell you one example of how bad the relationship between cuba and the United States was in 2009 when President Obama took office. I remember meeting the head of the Cuban Intrasection here in washington and we were talking about hented to get good chinese food and i suggested going to a restaurant in Northern Virginia in one of the suburbs and he told me he couldnt go because hes not allowed to travel outside the beltway they had restrictions on how far cuban diplomats, Cuban Intersection is the de facto embassy, at least until now when the president changes this with his Executive Action. So that gives you a sense of how bad this relationship was. The diplomats couldnt even travel to get chinese food outside the belt way. They couldnt travel 25 miles outside of new york city. Beginning last year those restrictions started end iing. Weve come a long way and what is driving this, i think, is demographics, frankly. The fact that you vent v younger cubans that dont feel the embargo has worked. You have older cubans who still support it but younger cubans dont. Also since 1980 and the demographic population of students who have come here, theyre economic migrants, not because theyre fleeing political oppression, i think ana and i would disagree on this but that is also driving this. This is why the Obama Administration feels that its safe to do Something Like this. Ana, evan was mentioning where the support for this move today will come from but there is also fierce opposition as well you are living in miami right now. What reaction are you hearing there . Well, i have been communicating since the Early Morning with cuban american
leaders, with the cuban american congressional delegation, both democrat and republican and evan is right. He and i do disagree on some of this. I disagree that the demographics have changed as much as some would like us to believe theyve changed. Theyve changed some and after this recent election there were mistaken reports that Cuban Americans had voted majority for Charlie Crist and they havent. In fact, if you take a look at florida, theres not one, one statewide elected official that does not support the embargo. The one congressman, democrat cuban american who did support the embargo just got beat like a drum, his name was joe garcia, by a new generation of cubans, Carlos Corbello who is in his 30s and supports sanctions on cuba. So i think you wont see any change on the congressional opposition from the cuban american front. And though they are they can
be very partisan at times on other issues, when it comes to the cuba issue, Bob Ben Thmenen ted cruz, ileana roslehtinen, mario diazbalart, they are one front, they are a solid wall. What you can see here is theres still a fierce discussion and a fierce debate about u. S. Relations with cuba. All i have to say is think about when the u. S. Senate needs to confirm the president s nominee to be the first ambassador cuba. That will be fascinating. Ana navarro, evan perez, thank you so much. In just a few minutes, the president of the United States will speak in the cabinet room and announce these major changes in the relationship between the United States and cuba. The biggest changes, i think, that we have seen in well over 50 years since the embargo and a series of other measures were imposed over time. Joining us is wolf blitzer. Wolf is going to cover the president s speech when it takes place just after noon. I wonder if you can put this in context, wolf. The Historical Impact of this in this country and in cuba and what this means . Its an historic moment. This is a most Significant Development in u. S. Cuban Relations going back to the revolution and cuba back in 1961. Its been clear to me from the very start of the Obama Administration this is precisely what the president wanted to do. He wanted to normalize relations, establish full diplomatic relations between the United States and cuba. As cuba, by the way, has with i think all of the countries in North And South America right now. But there were several problems along the way, certainly political problems as ana navarro just pointed out. A lot of domestic opposition not only from republicans but from some democrats as well. At the same time, theres been growing Political Support for an improved relationship between the u. S. And cuba and that is about to happen with the full normalization of relations,
diplomatic embassies, not just an intrasection, theres a cuban Interest Section here in washington, a u. S. Interest section in havana but now there will be ambassadors in both countries. There will be an opening of tourism, of trade. This is really a significant change. The president has wanted to do it but the imprisonment of alan gross was a serious impediment. Now that he has been released, obviously that opens the door to Whats Going On. Notwithstanding in the, way certainly, john and michaela, the final two years of his administration. He doesnt have to worry about politics anymore, getting reelected right after the midterms. He thought this was a good time to normalize the relationship. Thats what hes going to announce at the top of the hour. Wolf, stand by for a second. We want to bring in senator marco rubio who joins us and get his reaction to all of this going on. Obviously this is going to have a deep impact, a very personal way this is going to affect you as a cuban american and also as a lawmaker in the state of florida which is has a very, very large cuban american
population. Give me your reaction, personal and professional. On the issue of mr. Gross, im happy hell be back with his family. He never should have been in a cuban prison. He wasnt a spy. He was trying to provide a telecommunication equipment to a small Jewish Community there and hes been a hostage for five years and the cuban government almost allowed him to die in captivity. But these other measures are truly outrageous and counterproduct i have. Heres why. The president will increase the amount of remittances to the island, open up the Banking Sector and open up the telecommunications sector. What are the cubans going to do . Theyll release 53 Political Prisoners who can go to jail tomorrow if they decide to take up the cause of freedom and democracy and allow the United Nations to monitor conditions on the ground a little bit more closely. Thats it. No democratic opening. No freedom of the press. No freedom of organization or assembly. No elections, no political parties. No democratic opening at all. For me you talk about personally, the issue that i
care about in cuba is democracy. I want the cuban people to have freedom and democracy and then they can choose any economic model they want. Nothing that has s happening here will further that cause. On the contrary, it will set it back. Its a lifeline for the Castro Regime that allows them to become more profitable because they control every sector of the economy and allow them to become a more permanent fixture for decades to come now and the cuban people are further away from democracy today because of this. Senator, as were speaking we see pictures on the other side of the screen of alan gross returning to the United States. We saw a picture of him seeing his wife in cuba before he got on the plan to come back to the United States. There are two obviously very relieved people right there. I want to pick up on your point about u. S. Cuba relations. Because there are people, senator, who will argue with you. If the goal of all the measures that have been in place for so long, the United States measures against cuba, have been Regime Change, have been to change Whats Going On in cuba, fidel
castro well tcas trows have been in power for more than 50 years now. So whatever efforts to change things didnt seem to work. Well, first of all i would say that you talk about the Economic Conditions in cuba being so miserable, cuba trades with every country in the world. The reason why they have an Economic Disaster because their leaders are incompetent and their model of economics doesnt work. We dont have economic sanctions on venezuela and their economy is almost as bad as the cuban economy because they follow the same model. As far as it not working, its the fundamental misunderstanding of why the embargo still matters. The embargo is leverage. The sanctions are leverage. Raul castro is 80 something years old. From a biological standpoint his days are numbered and that there will be a change in government in cuba and i think that will be precipitated by the continuing response of their sponsors in caracas. The question now is what kind of government takes over. For us the embargoes serve as leverage to go to that new government or whoever their leaders are and say we are prepared as the law says in writing to open up economic relationships and diplomatic
relationships with cuba but you have to move on democratic changes. And thats not been done here. Weve just lost a significant part of our privilege to make that happen here in the foreseeable future. Not a single democratic concession. And by the way, this idea that the fact that there will now be more American Products available in cuba will bring about democracy is absurd. You cant point a single example in Human History or recent history especially where more economic trade has led to a democratic opening. China is as repressive as any government in the world and theyve got full economic relations with the United States. Im curious what youre hearing from people in your state. Youve obviously been on the Phone Hearing from folks in your state, leaders there, freedom the Cuban American Community. What are you hearing from folks . Well, look, i mean, the among many of the exiles theres a resistance to any sort of change whatsoever in policy. They would share many of the concerns ive just outlined. There are people in the Cuban Community who share our goals of bringing about democracy and
they believe that if somehow there was more economic trade with cuba that that would somehow create the conditions for an uprising or a dramatic change. I just dont know where theres ever happened when has tourism ever brought about democracy in this government controls every aspect of life in cuba, every aspect of life. Every single poisy change that the u. S. Has ever made towards cuba. Whether its more travel, more person to person contact, more remittences, they have manipulated every single one of them and Thelma Nip Lapt this as well. This is a small island of 13 Million People with an apparatus in place for over 50 years. It controls every aspect of life in cuba and it will control this as well. They will use all of these changes to their advantage. They will never allow any of these changes to undermine their grip on the island. Senator, you obviously have a personal and professional interest in what is happening in cuba. Quickly, were you briefed at all before this morning that this was happening . No, i was aware of it last night but not from the administration. I chose not to divulge what i knew because i didnt want to
endanger mr. Gross release. Obviously theres a Human Element to it. I was briefed this morning at around 10 00 a. M. By secretary kerry but i had already known about many of these chings and, quite frankly, i was expecting them. For weeks ive been asking tony blinken whos been confirmed by the senate specifically about these topics and and his answers nebulous at best led me to believe that something was in the works and i think, of course, its par for the course for this administration to announce it the day that Congress Finally recesses. I think that was not by accident, either. Senator, i want to ask you one question about your opinion about policy toward cuba because you seem to say to me two things that are a little bit in opposition. You say the embargo and sanctions in our measures towards cuba havent worked because everyone else has been trading with cuba all along but then you say its leverage in how we deal with cuba in the future. Can you have both things at once . Can you have it be leverage and can you have it not working at the same time . I think you misunderstood my first point. My first point was people often say the cuban embargo is hurting the cuban people and my answer is thats absurd. The cuban people get theoretically byproducts from any nation on earth. The reason they dont have those products is not because of the cuban embargo, its because of their government being incompetent. Now, the u. S. Embargo is leverage because cuba cares. Were the United States. Were not some small country halfway Around The World were the most powerful country on the planet, were their closest neighbor. Their number one priority of the cuban government is to affect u. S. Foreign policy towards cuba and you see this consistently reflected in the people they try to influence in academia and the editorials that have now been a steady stream of editorials in the New York Times and the folks that are Walking Around the cabal here and the members and colleagues of mine that are constantly being reached out to by the regime. Totry to get them on their side for these changes theres a reason for that. They know if they can open up
u. S. Markets they will have American Companies investment in the status quo in cuba. And what youre going to have now is American Companies doing business in Cuba Advocating here for us not to do anything to disrupt the status quo because its good for their bottom line. And i know that to be true because last week we passed a bill here that supported the democratic aspirations of people in hong kong and my office got multiple calls from companies that do business in china asking us not to do it because they have an interest in the status quo. The same was true with ukrainian sanctions and people that have Business Deals with moscow. They want this not to do too much on the sanctions front. Now youll see that with cuba as well. Senator marco rubio, we appreciate your time. We know this is very, very close to home. I guess we have here in studio rabbi eli abadi. He visited alan gross when gross was in prison in cuba. Great to have you. First of all, your reaction to knowing mr. Gross is now back home on american soil . Well, im thrilled and very excited to hear that hes freed
and what a wonderful time and occasion for him to be free as we celebrate the holiday of chanukah where we celebrate the miracle of the oil and this is truly a miracle that alan gross has been freed. You spoke to him, you met with him in cuba, correct . Yes. What were his frustrations while he was in prison there . Im sure he was shocked and infuriated at the cuban regime but did he feel like he was getting the support he wanted and needed from the American Government all along . I tell you, when i visited him almost two years ago together with a cuban american loyal he was frustrated at the cuban government but he was more frustrated at the American Government at that time. At that time he was trying to refuse to meet with any american official because he felt that the United States has abandoned him. He felt that he was laying in a prison in cuba without much support for from the United States. What is your sense about what changed then . Because this all seemed to
happen fairly quickly. Yes. Well we have been myself, james barren that will and a few other people, we have been pressing the United States government to sit down and negotiate with cuba his release. Whatever the price cuba was asking for, that is for the politicians, really to decide but for us it was really to pressure the u. S. Government to sit down and negotiate. There were so many ways that the United States could really extend a hand to cuba for the release of alan gross and i sensed in the last few weeks that something might be happening and so this morning when i heard i was really very thrilled about it. How is his health now . We know he had threatened not to eat. At one point last may he said he didnt think hed have another birthday in cuba. Well, if you remember when i was there, im a physician also and there was a claim he had cancer and he wasnt feeling well and he lost weight and i examined him as a physician, the cuban government allowed me to do so, i read and saw all of his medical records. At that time he was quite healthy. He had lost 100 pounds but then
he lost it not only because he did exercise and was on a diet that he himself imposed. Now i dont know exactly how he feels except what i hear, that his Arthritic Pain is preventing him from walking well, that he only sees from one eye. I just saw him going down the airplane, he seemed to be walking fine so im happy about that. But i think it was more importantly depressed, more emotionally than physically sick and that is because he could not see any light at the end of the tunnel. Rabbi, we appreciate you coming in and telling us about your experience meeting with alan gross who is home back on american soil with his wife judith and will be heading to his home im we know the president will be speaking a short time from now. Raul castro, the president of cuba will be speaking. Alan gross, we expect, will be speaking. This is a day that a lot of people thought they would not see for a long, long time, if
ever. Were going to turn it over to wolf blitzer whos going to take us to the president s big speech. Wolf . Hello, im wolf blitzer in washington. We want to welcome our viewers in the United States and Around The World. Only minutes away from a major announcement from the white house. President obama about to declare an historic thaw in u. S. Relations with cuba. And it begins with a prisoner swap. Youve probably been watching cnn live right now of the american contractor, alan gross. He has just arrived outside washington, d. C. , Joint Base Andrews after five years of captivity in the communist neighbor only 90 miles away from the southern tip of florida. Alan gross was escorted on the flight to andrews by his wife, judy, two u. S. Senators and a United States congressman. We understand cuba has also
freed an unnamed u. S. Intelligence source whos been held in cuban prisons for more than 20 years. The u. S. Has released the three remaining members of what were called the cuban five, they were convicted in 2001 of espionage. The other convicts are back in cuba already. Theyve served most of their sentences, all of the cuban five are now back in cuba. The policy changes, by far the biggest and most dramatic changes since washington clamped an embargo on cuba way back in 1961. They include right now more travel for american passport holders, greater opportunities to visit cuba, tourism, greater export of American Goods and services. Americans will be allowed to bring cuban goods home in limited quantities. Cuban expatriots will be able to send more money back home, all leading to a full restoration of full diplomatic relations. The u. S. Announcing there will
be fullfledged embassies, an American Ambassador in havana, a cuban ambassador here in washington. Not just diplomatic Interest Sections but embassies and all that means a normalization of diplomatic relations, in other words. Cnn is covering these seismic developments as only cnn can. Our Patrick Ottman is the only reporter there. Elise labott is standing by live. Alina machado, jim sciutto, evan perez and our white house correspondent, jim acosta. Lets go to havana first. Patrick is on the scene, the only u. S. Television correspondent in havana. Tell us, patrick, Whats Going On right now because clearly this is such a Dramatic Development and we have learned
for the first time in about 50 years there was a major Phone Conversation between President Obama and raul castro, the president of cuba. Reporter yes, thats absolutely unprecedented. The two leaders would not only speak but talk for 45 minutes and hammer out the last details of this exchange of prisoners. Were told this morning that alan gross was picked up by u. S. Government plane carrying u. S. Congressmen, his wife, judy, his attorney, scott gilbert. Alan gross was only told yesterday that he was going to be freed. After his attorney told him by phone the news that he was going to be freed, alan gross was speechless. He couldnt believe it. He left havana this afternoon around 8 a. M. When he was told they had cleared cuban airspace. He rose from his seat and was unable to talk he was so emotional. Then he phoned his two daughters. His first words were, im free. He landed at Andrews Air Force base a little while ago. Hes going on now to try to recover the health that was so badly damaged by five years in cuban prison. But theres a much bigger story here, which is a loosening of decadeslong restrictions. Cubans are still finding out about this basically from u. S. Media thats here. They dont have easy access to the internet or regular access to channels like cnn. And raul castro is due to address the nation here any moment now. The cubans still havent been told by the official state media that this very important change is taking place. They have to let this change sink in, something most people here never thought was going to happen, which is the u. S. If not lifting the embargo, finally loosening some important restrictions that have kept these two countries divided for so long, wolf. The president of cuba, raul castro, i take it hes about to make a statement on television
to the cuban people, the president of the United States, President Obama, hes about to make a statement. Only moments away from both of those statements. This is pretty extraordinary for raul castro to be going out and announcing to the cuban people probably almost exactly the same time that President Obama is announcing to the American People and the entire world Whats Going On. Set the scene for the raul castro announcement. Reporter well, i dont think anything has happened like this probably since the Cuban Missile Crisis where basically you have a u. S. Leader and a cuban leader addressing their people at the same time. Raul castro does not make regular addresses to the cuban people or spontaneous addresses. Usually when he talks about the United States, its very combative terms. So hell have to really explain this in a way that will line up with some of the hardline rhetoric that were so used to hearing here. The loosening of restrictions,
the u. S. Returning these three intelligence agents. Theyre not people youve ever heard of very often in the United States but theyre famous here in cuba. After gonzalez, theres been no greater Government Campaign to return a cuban citizen from the United States than these jailed cuban spies. So they will be greeted as victorious heroes who have come back. Of course, many of them faced years more in u. S. Prison. Thats been raul castros number one priority. Now hell have to explain to people who are used to hearing u. S. Talked to in terms of enemy, exactly how this is going to work, what the new relationship will be and as well, this is a country the cubans blame everything, its terrible economy now the cubans will have to soften that hard line a little bit. As well probably take more ownership of the disastrous state of their economy. As some of these restrictions are lifted, increasingly the cubans will no longer be able to
blame the u. S. For the problems here in cuba. A dramatic and historic moment in the u. S. Cuban Relationship, the most dramatic moment in improved relations going back r50 years. Patrick oppmann, the only u. S. Television Correspondent Reporting for us from havana. Well be anxious to hear what the cuban president , raul castro, has to say. Yesterday, the president of the United States and the president of cuba had what was described as about a 45minute to a onehour conversation. That was the first direct president ial communication between the United States and cuba going back probably 50 years, a major discussion. They choreographed, they worked out all of the details that are about to take place beginning with the president s statement, President Obamas statement only a few moments away. Elise labott is joining us, our Global Affairs correspondent. You brought the story earlier this morning here on cnn. I think for those of us who have
watched u. S. Cuban Relations over the years, this is historic. Its a great, great moment if you want to see this improvement in the relationship. It opens up the doors. But there will be severe criticism. Reporter thats right. Certainly members of congress, diehard anticuba lawmakers who think this is not the time, that certainly while the castros are in power that theres no way that the u. S. Could open up to cuba. What the administration is saying here with all these landmark remarks the president will be making is, listen, the embargo isnt working. If we wanted a Regime Change in cuba, thats not happening. And they notice there have been some modest reforms in cuba, such as allowing more freedom of expression, more political dissidents are being freed from jail. The cubans are releasing 53 prisoners from a list provided from the u. S. Theres more Economic Opportunities for cubans to own property and things like that. So what the u. S. Is saying is this is not a reward for the cuban government. But if you want to increase those changes, if you want to open up cuba, that means you need to engage more with the cuban government and the cuban people. So to that end, the u. S. Will be opening an embassy in havana and cuba will be opening up a formal embassy here. This is really the most sweeping overhaul in u. S. Policy towards cuba since the embargo was imposed. Easing of full diplomatic relations, including embassies and ambassadors between the United States and cuba, a sea change, as we say. Alina machado is in Little Havana in miami for us. How are Cuban Americans there reacting . Reporter weve seen a mixture of the reactions. The one thing that everybody agrees on is the fact that its a good thing that al gan gross was released. Theres no debating that. Where things get dicey here,